Liquid and gas separation



July 28, 1936. J. p WALKER Re. 20,051

LIQUID AND GAS SEPARATION Original Filed April 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 28,V 1936. .1A P. WALKER LIQUID AND GAS SEPARATION Original Filed April 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ressued July 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE LIQUID AND GAS SEPARATION Jay P. Walker, Tulsa,

Okla., assigner of forty per cent to Guy O. Mal-chant and six per cent to C. G. Wells, Tulsa, Okla.

Original No. 1,970,784, dated August' 21, 1934, Serial No. 605,945, April 18, 1932. Application for reissue June 15, 1936, Serial No. 85,324

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in liquid and gas separation.

The invention has particularly to do w1th the separation of water, oil and gas at the well and as the mixture is discharged from the well.

It is highly desirable and more economical to flow oil from an oil well, rather than to pump or elevate it by articial means; but to do so, a gas pressure must be maintained in the well, and,

therefore, the liquid is produced or flowed under` pressure. The majority ot wells flow water as well as oil, together with the gas.

In order to conserve the gas pressure in the well it is the practice to choke the flow which is l5 accomplished by owing the eiiluent from the well through a reduced opening or a partially closed valve. With this practice there is a constant possibility of emulsiflcation of the oil and water. which makes a later separation of these constituents very difncult and expensive.

Certain apparatuses have been developed and successfully usedfor preventing emulsication and for effectively separating oil, gas and water owing from a well under pressure.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means and apparatus for separating or precipitating the water from the oil and gas while the three components are under well pressure, and without any appreciable attempt to separate I the oil from the gas either at the time of the precipitation, or ln the same receptacle, or prior to reducing the pressure.

A further object of the invention is to precipitate or settle the water by gravitation without any segregation of the gas and to flow the gas and oil in admixture or solution from the point of precipitation of the water to the point where the pressure is reduced. A particular object of the invention is to ccnduct the oil and gas in admixture or solution and under a reduced pressure to a point of separation and there separate them.

Another object of the invention is to provide exterior means for regulating the flowing pressure .under which the oil and gas pass through the rst container or separator, as well as for adjusting the orice through which the oil and gas flow from the main separating tank.

The advantages of the invention are many and among them are, rapid separation of large or small volumes; simplicity and compactness of apparatus; more enective precipitation of the water; reduction of foaming in the main separating tank; automatic discharging of the water from the main separating tank; the discharge of water and sand free from gas or gas pressure; and the elimination of numerous traps. I

A further advantage of the invention is that the oil and gas, as they come from the well, being so intermixcd or commngled as to now together 5 as long as they are kept at the samev pressure, will not separate when the water is precipitated, vbecause the oil and gas are kept Aconstantly in motion and no space is provided in the main separating tank for separating the oil from the 10 gas.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

` The invention will be more readily understood 15 from a reading of the following specication and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of an apparatus for 20 carrying out the separation` in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a. vertical sectional view of the saine,

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2, and- Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the choke.

In the drawings the numeral I0 designates an-' upright water separating tank and I I, an upright gas and oil separating tank. These tanks are preferably cylindrical and the tank II `may be mounted upon the tank I0, but this is not essential, and the invention is not to be so limited. Where the tanks are mounted as shown in Figures 1 and 2 they are secured together by flanged rings I2 fastened thereto and united by bolts I3.

The tank I0 has a false bottom I4 and a false top I5. At mid-height an influent pipe I6 connected directly to the well pipe (not shown) is secured in the collar I1 of a flared diverter IB. 'I'he collar connects through the wall of the tank with the diverter which is placed against the wall so as to turn the influent against the inner face of the wall, spread it, and direct it circumferentially on said wall around the tank. By this arrangement the influent consisting of a mixture of oil, gas and water with more or less sand is caused to whirl in the tank.

An upright cylindrical column I9 is suspended from the top I5 and connects at its lower end with a hood or shield 2D. The shield 20 is made to nt the inner wall of the tank, and its top inclines to an upright front wall 20'. The liquids which fall or ow down the tank will be shed by the inclined top of the shield to the space in front of the wall 20', so as to enter said shield under the lower edge of the wall. 'I'he greater portion of the liquids in the lower portion of the tank will be water. which will seek a level both inside of and outside of thegcolumn I3, and ow either from the diverter I3 or down through the column.

vThe float is secured to the end of an arm 22 fastened on a rock shaft 23 .iournaled in a bonnet 24 mounted onthe manhole 26 of the tank I0. An outlet pipe 26 extends from the bottom I4 and ls connected with a water trap 21 through the side wall of the tank. An outlet valve 23 controls the discharge of water from this trap. 'Ihe trap may be omitted and the valve 28 connected directly to the pipe 26. The rock shaft 23 ls connected with a pressure valve 29 for controlling a supply of gas pressure conducted from the top of the tank II by a pipe 30, or low pressure gas or air from any source may be used. Asecond pipe 3| leads from the valve to a diaphragm 32. When the oat 2| rises above its normal level the valve 23 is opened to supply gas pressure to the diaphragm, and thus open the valve 23, whereby water is discharged from the trap 21 ln the lower portion of the tank. It is not considered necessary to describe the details of the valve operating means, which .is similar to the structure shown in my Letters Patent No. 1,846,376, issued February 23, 1932. It is to be understood that any means suitable for the purpose may be employed to discharge water from the bottom of the tank Il f when the same has risen above a pre-determined level.

It is stressed that no oil and gas separation is carried out in the tank III and the only function of this tank is to separate the water by gravitation. The reason there will be no separation of oil and gas in the tank III is because so long as they are kept under the same pressure and permitted to ow, there will be no separation. The influent enters at I3 but the stream of oil and gas is constantly discharged through the valve 33 and, therefore, this stream is always moving.

as to ilow with it rather than to separate from it. There will be no tendency for the gas to coilect in the top of the tank above the louvres 33 or above the lower end of the tube 34. The water being heavier than the oil and gas will, of course,v

precipitate downwardly. When the device is in use the tank III will at all times be lled to its top I6, water beingcollected in the lower portion and the gas and oil mixture lling the upper portion. It is presumed that most of the water will settle out and not rise in the tank. However, in order to complete the extraction of the water, louvres 33 are provided in the upper portion of the column I3 arranged to admit the liquids and y gases `(either in occlusion or in solution or admixture) rising in the tank and direct the same circumferentially within the column around a depending spout 34, in accordance with their through-put velocity.` The spout extends some distance below the louvres', and the annular space between the spout and the column above the louvres is closed by a flange 33 fastened to the column. The influent upon entering the column through the louvres 33 is caused to whirl and pass downwardly before entering the spout. in so travelingan opportunity is given for the water tobe cast out ofthe mixture and tosettle. The

oil and gas mixture willfpass upwardly through the spout 34 into the'upper end of the column and out through an elbow 36 leading from the top I6. It will be seen that no space or provision is made in the top of the tank I0 for separating 5 the oil and gas, and the latter are carried out through the pipe 36 unseparated. The path which the influent travels in passing through the tank I Il is very important because one object of the invention is to extract as much water as is possible, and to do so, without separating the oil and gas from each other. 'I'he inlet louvres I8 will give the influent a circumferential motion which tends to yextract the water, owing to the differences in the natures of oil, water and gas. The fluids constantly flowing toward the outlet pipe 36 are kept inmotion by the pressure of inowing influent from the well. These uids are carried up to the louvres 33, then down along the the spout 34 and thence up to the discharge pipe 20 36. `'I'hese up and down and centrifugal movements precipitate the water, particularly because of the particular path traveled and its length.

A discharge pipe 31 leads 'from the elbow 36 to the casing 33 of a choke valve, which is shown 25 in detail in Figure 5. An ordinary safety valve 39 is connected in the pipe 31 in advance of the choke, and may be set to pop off at any desired pressure. While any suitable form of choke valve or pressure regulating means may be em- 30 ployed, I prefer to use the type illustrated, but do not consider the structure of the same a part of the invention. The choke valve shown may be purchased in the open market and has been found to work satisfactorily. f 35 In the upper end of the casing 38 a valve bushv ing 40 is screwed and this bushing forms a seat for an elongated taper valve 4I having a stem 42. A spider 43 is screwed into the lower end of the casing `and carries a stuffing box 44 through which the stem extends. The lower portion of the stem is provided with screw threads 46 which engage in the lower end of the spider. A hand wheel 46 is provided on the lowerend of the stem for operating the valve. A locking lever 41 is mounted on the threads 45 and may be screwed up against the bottom of the spider to lock the stem 42 and the valve 4I in adjusted positions.

The oil and gas mixture is received in the cas` ing 33 at well pressure, and this pressure is-maintained throughout the tank I0. The valve 4l is adjusted so as to reduce the flow and thereby discharge the oil and gas mixture from the bushing similar to the diverter I3.

It is' pointed out that so long as water remains in the mixture an emulsication is likely to occur. By introducing the mixture from the pipe I3 into 60 a body of liquid within the tank I0 and whirling and passing the mixture as described. full opportunity is given the water to settle or precipitate from said mixture. ByV passing the mixture around the tank, then upwardly through the louvres 33 and then downwardly and again upwardly through the spout 34, an elongated path is pursued, and it is obvious that this extended path is sufcient to cause the extraction of the water. 'I'he opening through which the liquids and uids 70 pass prior to entering the valve casing 3l are large and therefore, there is practically no reduction in the well. pressure. By keeping the oil and gas intermixed and constantly flowing, no opportunity is oiered for the gas to collect in the upper portion of the tank Il). It is contrary to the purpose oi' this invention to carry out any separation of oil and gas in the tank I0 and actual operation shows that there is no such separation. However, I Wish to stress and make clear that the mixture is not separated into its constituent parts while still under well pressure, and that Yno attempt is made to separate the oil and gas mixture until the pressure thereon has been reduced. No space is left in the tank |0- for collecting or carrying off gas, and the sole purpose of the tank I0 is to extract the water from the influent. V

It is obvious that any emcient separating device may be used to separate the oil and gas, therefore, the tank Il and the elements thereof illustrate merely a practical separator. The oil and gas mixture is spread upon the inner Wall of the tank Il and carried circumferentially therearound in a thin film. This stream moves in a helical path, the gaseous fluids tending to rise, and the liquids traveling downwardly. A cylindrical scrubbing shell 50 is suspended from the top oi the tank and provided with a plurality of louvres 5I similar to the louvres 33. The shell has a conical bottom 52 from which a' drain pipe 53 extends downwardly.

The gaseous iluids passing upwardly are robbed of some of their moisture and enter the shell through the louvres 5|. These louvres cause the gaseous fluids to travel circumferentially, whereby moisture is scrubbed out on the walls of the shell. The gas is carried from the .top of the shell through .a pipe 54 and the extractedoil drains through the pipe '53 into a shield 55 in the lower part'of the tank. The oil which settles in the tank enters the open bottom of the shield and with the drained oil passes out through an outlet pipe 56. A suitable float 51 is connected with a valve 58 as is common in the art for controlling the discharge of oil.

As herelnbefore stated the separator tank I I may be mounted separately fromithe tank Il) and may be of any suitable construction. I am aware that various devices have been used for precipitating water from the mixture discharged from a well. It has been my observation that in the ma- Jority of these devices, the gas is separated from the oil and water in the same receptacle. By the method herein set forth, wherein the water is extracted without separating the oil and gas and automatically dumped, a much more simple apparatus may be employed and the separation more quickly carried out. Further, a better separation of the gas and oican be effected where the water is nrst taken out and the oil and gas separation performed under a lower pressure.

Various changes in the size and shape oi the dierent parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

. Having illustrated and described a preferred 'form of the invention, what I claim is:

1..In a liquid and gas separator, an upright tank, an inlet in the side of the tank for direct connection with a well pipe, a diverter in the tank connected with the inlet for directing the influent circumferentially, a column in said tank having entrance openings in its upper portion, a spout in said column extending below the openings thereof, a conductor for oil and gas extending from the top of the column, a pressure reducer connected with said conductor, and an oil and gas separator connected with said pressure reducer. 2. 1ny a liquid and gas yseparator-,an upright tank, an inlet in the side of the tank for direct connection with a well pipe, a diverter in the tank connected with the inlet for directing the influent circumferentially, a column in said tank having entrance openings in its upper portion, a spout in said column extending below the openings thereof, a conductor for oil and gas extending from the top of the column, a pressure reducer-connected with said conductor, an oil and gas separator connected with said pressure reducer, and means for automatically dumping water from the bottom of the tank.

3. The method of extracting water from oil, gas and Water well mixtures which consists, in conducting the mixture under well pressure from the well, extracting the Water by whirling the mixture and moving it in up and down paths, whereby the water is precipitated and separated by gravity and the oil and gas are maintained in admixture, and then carrying off the oil and gas in admixture.

4. The method of extracting water from oil, gas and water mixtures flowing from a well under well pressure which consists, in settling out the Water and holding the gas and oil under suiiicient pressure to maintain them in admixture, flowing said gas and oil together from the point of water separation while under said pressure, reducing the pressure on the flowing oil and gas, and then separating the oil and gas.

5. In the art of treating well ilulds, the steps of flowing the fluids under pressure from the well into a chamber, maintaining said fluids under a sufilcient pressure in said chamber to hold the oil and gas in admixture while settling out the water by gravitation, causing a discharge of the oil and gas still in admixture from said chamber, and reducingthe pressureon said oil andgas after discharge from said chamber.

f 6. In the art of treating well iluids, the steps of flowing the ilulds under pressure from the well into a chamber, maintaining said fluids under a suicient pressure in said chamber to hold the oil and gas in admixture while settling out the water by gravitation, causing a discharge of the oil and gas still in admixture from said chamber, reducing the pressure on said oil and gas after discharge from said chamber, and separating the oil from the gas.

7. In the art of treating well uids, the steps of flowing the iiuids under pressure from the well into a chamber, directing the fluids in circum- 8. The method of separating oil, gas and waterl which consists in conducting the components under well pressure from the well, whirling said cornponents and settling out the water by gravitation c from the body oi' components while owing the oil and gas under suflicient pressure to maintain them in admixture, then flowing substantially all of the oil and gas from the point of water-separation and still in admixture. reducing the pressure on the owing oil and gas to promote separation, and then separating the oil and gas.

' 9. The method of separating oil, gas and water l which consists in conducting the components under well pressure from the well, owins said com- 75 ponents in a circuitous path and settling out the water by gravitation from the body of components while flowing the oil and gas under sumci'ent pressure to maintain them in admixtux'e, then flowingl substantially all of the oil and gas from the point of water-separation and still in admixture, reducing the pressure on the flowing oil and gas to promote separation, and then separating the oil tank, an inlet in the side of the tank for directconnection with a well pipe. a water outlet atthe bottom of the tank, baile means in the tank Iocated to cause the liquids and uids owing therethrough to pursue an extended path for extracting the water theretrom, a conductor located at the top of said tank and extending therefrom for carrying of! substantially all oi' the oil and gas from said tank, a pressure reducer adapted to be set to maintain a substantially iixed pressure connected to said conductor, andan oil and gas separator connected with said conductor.

12. In a liquid and gas separator, an upright tank, an inlet in the side of the tank for direct connection with a well pipe, a water outlet at the bottom of the tank, a conductor located at the top ci said tank and extending therefrom for carrying off substantially all of the oil and gas from said tank. a choke valve adapted to be set to maintain a substantially xed pressure connected to said conductor. andan oil and gas separatorl connected with said conductor.

- JAY P. WALKER. 

